Weekly SermonThis sermon is a companion to a previous sermon: In the Way of This Life - Psalm 119:1Psalm 119:1-3 reads, “Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.”In Psalm 119:1 we encounter the phrase “in the way.” With this phrase we are introduced to an important subject matter of this lengthy psalm; for Psalm 119 includes the words “way” and “ways” eighteen times and the word “path” two times. As we have noted in a previous message, the phrase “in the way” employs the words “the way” without any form of modification. Thus herein “the way” does not refer to any particular choice of way throughout this life, but to the way of this life itself. It refers to the fact that we all must travel along the pathway of this life. Furthermore, as we have considered in that previous message, the phrase “in the way” directs our attention upon three aspects of this life that we all must encounter. These three aspects of life are the matter of challenges, the matter of choices, and the matter of consequences.Yet in Psalm 119:3 we encounter a different phrase at the end of the verse. It is the phrase “in his ways,” and it introduces us to another truth concerning our walk along the pathway of life. This phrase does include the modifier “his” before the word “ways.” As such, it refers in context to the way (or, ways) of our Lord. Throughout the psalm this way is further described as the way of His testimonies, the way of His precepts, the way of His commandments, the way of His statutes, and the way of truth. The intention of Psalm 119 is to exhort us and encourage us to choose this particular way, the way of our Lord, as the direction of our daily walk along each step of the way as we face life’s many different challenges. In addition, Psalm 119:1-3 reveals that the consequence for choosing the way of our Lord as the particular direction for our daily walk is that our Lord’s favor and blessing will be poured out upon our lives. So then, what is involved for us to follow the way of our Lord step by step in our daily walk? In this first part of the message, let us consider the first two of nine elements that are revealed in Psalm 119.

The Need for DeterminationIn Psalm 119:30-31 the psalmist declared, “I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me. I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O LORD, put me not to shame.” Herein the psalmist made a determined choice to follow the way of truth, that is – to follow the way of the Lord. Yea, he made a determined choice to follow the way of the Lord’s judgments and testimonies. Even so, if we would walk after the way of our Lord, we ourselves must make a determined choice each day to do so. We cannot just go with the flow of the influences around us. The system of this present evil world has not been established in order to help our walk in the way of our Lord. Rather, the system of this present evil world will spoil us through its ungodly philosophies and vain deceits (Colossians 2:8), not directing us after our Lord, but directing us after the lust of our flesh, the lust of our eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16). In addition, the selfish desires of our own sinful flesh will never direct us after the way of our Lord, but only astray from our Lord after our own way. In our selfish, sinful flesh, there dwells no good thing, no, not even the smallest speck (Romans 7:18). On the other hand, for us as believers, the influence of the indwelling Holy Spirit, the very Spirit of our Lord within us, will always direct us to walk after the way of our Lord “in all goodness and righteousness and truth” (Ephesians 5:9). Therefore, if we would walk after the way of our Lord, we must make a determined choice each day not to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed after the image of our Lord through the renewing of our mind under the directing influence of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Romans 12:2). In addition, we must make a determined choice each day to put unto death the desires and deeds of our selfish, sinful flesh through the divine empowerment of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Romans 8:13). Yea, we must make a determined choice each day to deny our selves, to take up our cross of submission unto our Lord, and to follow Him in His way in all things (Luke 9:23). We must make a determined choice each day to present ourselves unto our Lord as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1), to be holy before Him in all manner of behavior (1 Peter 1:15), and thus to walk wellpleasing in His sight. We must make a determined choice each day to put on and abide in our Lord, and to make no provision whatsoever for our selfish, sinful flesh to fulfill its desires (Romans 13:14). Indeed, if we would walk after the way of our Lord, we must make a determined choice each day to let His Word dwell in us richly in all wisdom (Colossians 3:16). We must make a determined choice to take up the truth and teaching of our Lord’s Word as the authoritative standard of truth for our hearts and lives, to discern the good and the evil in all things thereby. Yea, this is the very means by which the indwelling Holy Spirit will renew our minds and transform us after our Lord. Yea, this is the very means by which we may abide in our Lord, and He in us. Yea, this is the very means by which the indwelling Holy Spirit will direct us in the way wherein we ought to walk. Yea, this is the very means by which we may be instructed in the way of righteousness and true holiness. Yet in order for this determination, this determined choice to walk after the way of our Lord, to be fully effective, it must be inseparably joined with another element.The Need for ConvictionIn Psalm 119:30-31 the psalmist declared, “I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me. I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O LORD, put me not to shame.” When the psalmist made his determined choice, he made the choice to walk in that which he called “the way of truth.” Within the context of this psalm, it is clear that “the way of truth” is the way of the Lord and the way of His testimonies, precepts, commandments, and statutes. In fact, the psalmist revealed his viewpoint concerning “the way of truth” when he further indicated that he had set the Lord’s judgment before him and had stuck unto the Lord’s testimonies. In this manner, the psalmist revealed his absolute conviction that the way of the Lord and of His Word was indeed “the way of truth.” Even so, the psalmist expressed this absolute conviction in the opening portion of Psalm 119:75, saying, “I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right.” Again in Psalm 119:105 he expressed his absolute conviction in the truth of God’s Word, saying, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Yet again in Psalm 119:127-130 he expressed his absolute conviction, saying, “Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold. Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way. Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them. The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.” And yet again in Psalm 119:137-138 he expressed his absolute conviction, saying, “Righteous art thou, O LORD, and upright are thy judgments. Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful.” And yet again in Psalm 119:144 he expressed his absolute conviction, saying, “The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live.” Finally, in Psalm 119:160 he expressed his absolute conviction, saying, “Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.” This is just the absolute conviction that we must have in the way and the Word of our Lord. Yea, this is just the absolute conviction that we must join inseparably with our determined choice to walk after the way and the Word of our Lord. We must possess the absolute conviction that our Lord’s Word and way is completely perfect, and thus able to covert and transform our innermost character. We must posses the absolute conviction that our Lord’s Word and way is always faithful, and thus able to give us true wisdom and understanding. We must possess the absolute conviction that our Lord’s Word and way is always right, and thus able to bring true, spiritual joy unto our hearts. We must posses the absolute conviction that our Lord’s Word and way is completely pure, and thus able to enlighten our eyes with godly discernment. We must posses the absolute conviction that our Lord’s Word and way is clean, and true, and righteous altogether. We must posses the absolute conviction that obeying the instructions and admonitions of our Lord’s Word is the one and only way to experience great reward in our Lord’s favor. Indeed, if we would walk in the way of our Lord, we must posses such absolute conviction in our Lord’s Word.